Why oh why did Kosakowski go pro?

On a side note, at least D. Kosakowski did spend a year to help him mature and show that he was able to win consistently at the top spot on a top team. Mitchell Kreuger is a name that comes to mind that really could've used that same type of seasoning. Instead he is now really struggling out on the futures circuit with no real upside insight for the near future. Hope that I'm wrong.

Yes, money, and the pursuit of, is the most important thing for everyone, every single person on earth.

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Which leads to a question along the lines of this thread....if you finished college and were let's say, one of the top ranked 50 in the college rankings playing on a top team (getting great training daily for college years) that could likely get some rounds in futures pretty much out the gate, hopefully winning not too far off......would you give the pros a whirl for a year or two if there was a way to fund it without living in a dumpster during this time to do it? So you know the unlikelihood of making it, (and I get that some think if you can't earn a zillion dollars why do it)......but would it be worth the experience and the time invested to give it a go? Let's say you end up being 300, 400 or even 600+ in the world, versus a top earning player, is it something to look back on and think you are glad you gave it a go? Is saying you played pro with even some success worth it all to a player?

Of course there is no 100% right answer, but for some of the really devoted tennis zealots on here - looking back or just imagining ---- if you could have, would you have?

Again, this is not to pick on him specifically, but to give up a world class education and free ride to college, get some confidence and graduate, and still have plenty of time for tennis and a shot at a pro tennis career, is ludicrous.

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Not so sure he would have gotten a "world-class education." I don't know anything about UCLA or DK's plans, but I'm guessing he would have majored in some sort of sporty subject and his tennis skills would have been his major employment asset after graduation, just as they are now.

Looks like he made about $10K in 2013 with a 4-14 record.
2014 doesn't look much better.

Sad.

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I take it you missed the part where he was out most of the year with a shoulder injury?

As for this season, he made the semi's of a challenger, and was one win away from a spot in the main draw of the aussie open. The year is still young, it's hard to make a prediction about how he'll do over all.

What many don't know or realize is that most top players out of the juniors with pro potential are usually offered a deal. " Come play for our university for 1 year and you afterward you can turn pro. " " Later you can come back and your tuition will still be paid for." No you cannot play for the team when you return but you won't have to pay tuition. Most Universitys can and will offer this deal to their top recruits that have pro aspirations. I am positive Daniel had the offer from UCLA as well.

Don't get me wrong, I'm pulling for him. But it just seems like he's getting bad advice.
And I know a couple of guys who got ATP points. It doesn't mean much to them, or to their employers. A degree from a top university carries far more weight.
If Daniel can go back, paid, to UCLA, then great. It's not to pick on him, its more to tell these players to stay in school. With guys like Haas still killing it at 35+ there are plenty more years to succeed on tour.

What many don't know or realize is that most top players out of the juniors with pro potential are usually offered a deal. " Come play for our university for 1 year and you afterward you can turn pro. " " Later you can come back and your tuition will still be paid for." No you cannot play for the team when you return but you won't have to pay tuition. Most Universitys can and will offer this deal to their top recruits that have pro aspirations. I am positive Daniel had the offer from UCLA as well.

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These deals are not for 3 years of free education after one year of playing, they are give us 4 years and if you don't finish you can come back after some period of time in pros to clean up and finish degree. And they are very rare, have to have the 5th year budget or be willing to take it from a current team. UCLA does not have extra tennis money laying around. They do not put emphasis on education for their tennis players that's for sure.

These deals are not for 3 years of free education after one year of playing, they are give us 4 years and if you don't finish you can come back after some period of time in pros to clean up and finish degree. And they are very rare, have to have the 5th year budget or be willing to take it from a current team. UCLA does not have extra tennis money laying around. They do not put emphasis on education for their tennis players that's for sure.

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I know for a fact that is precisely the deal. And I know for a fact most colleges extend the same deal. I have a kid who in fact was offered the same deal from multiple institutions (All 5 schools during the official visits) in the recruiting process. Thats when I found out Daniel infact was offered the same deal. My kid remains in school for now. Again, its not offered to every recruit.

Any scholarship money offered as an inducement to a recruit counts against the 4.5 scholarship limit. If DK comes back to UCLA on such money, it would have to come out of UCLA's 4.5 limit, or else it is against NCAA rules, because it is not the kind of money available to non-athletes. If UCLA offered four years of tuition for one year of decent play that did not lead to any titles, they are complete idiots. But the whole story sounds bogus, and like many bogus internet stories, will not be substantiated except on vague hearsay.

Devin Britton played this one season for Ole Miss, won the Ncaas in Singles as a freshman and then went on pro tour for 1 or 2 full seasons. Now he is back @ Ole Miss as an assistant, but he seems to be not allowed to play again for them.

Devin Britton played this one season for Ole Miss, won the Ncaas in Singles as a freshman and then went on pro tour for 1 or 2 full seasons. Now he is back @ Ole Miss as an assistant, but he seems to be not allowed to play again for them.

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Since he turned pro and accepted money he is no longer eligible to play college tennis, so he can only work for the team, not play on it.

Devin Britton played this one season for Ole Miss, won the Ncaas in Singles as a freshman and then went on pro tour for 1 or 2 full seasons. Now he is back @ Ole Miss as an assistant, but he seems to be not allowed to play again for them.

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Yes, and I am sure his tuition is waved. Some schools do require the player work for the university to some extent, but others don't place the requirement that the player must work when they return. Its a great deal for a player who wants to turn pro, yet not have to completely give up the education.